Reflecting on Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn's Relationship: A Year After the Split

Its Been 1 Year Since News Broke Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn Split Everything Thats Happened Since

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn Blitz Pictures/INSTARimages.com

Exactly one year ago, Taylor Swift fans were leaving flowers on Cornelia Street to mourn the end of her relationship with Joe Alwyn. Both the fans and the singer have come a long way since then.

On April 8, 2023, it was confirmed that Swift, 34, and Alwyn, 33, called it quits after six years of dating. The following month, Swift released the Midnights vault track “You’re Losing Me” as an exclusive CD edition sold to fans during her Eras Tour. Speculation that the breakup shouldn't have been a surprise began as the ballad details the slow deterioration of a relationship.

Swift sings about not being a good partner, always trying to please others. She questions if her partner will take action, speak up, take risks, and choose her, as she feels she has nothing to offer unless they choose her.

Producer Jack Antonoff confirmed that Swift wrote the single in December 2021. Fans speculated that Swift may have been unhappy in her relationship but tried to make it work. Sources revealed that Swift's celebrity status played a role in her breakup with Alwyn.

Joe, being very shy, never enjoyed the attention that came with dating one of the most popular singers in the world. According to an insider, the actor felt uncomfortable always having to be in the spotlight. This resonates with some of Taylor Swift's biggest fears as expressed in her songs, where she worries about not being able to give her partner "peace" due to her high-profile life.

After the release of "You're Losing Me," Taylor Swift continued to release music by putting out her re-recordings of Speak Now in July 2023 and 1989 in October 2023.

Amid her successful tour, where she solidified her status as a billionaire, Swift also found time for a new romantic relationship. She briefly dated The 1975’s Matty Healy from May 2023 to June 2023. After her split with Healy, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce attempted to pursue a relationship with the singer but was unsuccessful at the time.

During his podcast with brother Jason Kelce, the 34-year-old tight end shared that he attended Swift's performance in Kansas City in July 2023. Kelce had intended to give Swift a friendship bracelet he had made, complete with his contact information, but missed the opportunity to present the gift.

In December 2023, Swift shared that after Travis playfully called her out, she decided to reach out to him. Their relationship blossomed, and they started dating before she attended her first football game in September 2023. Swift became a regular in the stands, cheering on Travis and the Chiefs all the way to the Super Bowl.

While Swift kept her relationship with Alwyn private, she was more open about her romance with Travis. She proudly showed the world that they were each other's biggest supporters.

In her December 2023 TIME Person of the Year interview, Swift explained the concept of a public relationship. She mentioned that in a public relationship, both partners support each other openly and are not concerned about others being around.

As Swift and Travis’ relationship developed, fans began to notice the contrast between Travis and Alwyn's behavior towards questions about the singer. Alwyn avoided talking about Swift's music in 2018, while Travis proudly included his girlfriend's music in his daily playlists.

Swift and Travis displayed affection publicly during the Super Bowl and post-game celebrations. On the other hand, videos resurfaced showing Swift and Alwyn rushing to their cars to avoid being photographed, highlighting the differences in their relationships.

Travis continued to support Swift as she reached new career heights. In 2023, Swift made history at the MTV Video Music Awards by winning Video of the Year for her song "Anti-Hero" - her fourth win in this category. Following this success, she released the film version of her Eras Tour in October 2023, which debuted at the top of the box office. After five months, the movie found its way to Disney+ and became the most streamed music film.

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In February 2024, Swift won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. During her acceptance speech, she shocked fans by revealing her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.

“I felt the urge to create it. It was like a lifeline for me,” Swift explained at her concert in Melbourne in February. “It made me remember why songwriting is so important to me and I've never relied on songwriting as much as I did for Tortured Poets.”

After revealing the album, fans began speculating that TTPD would delve into her breakup with Alwyn. The album's title is reminiscent of Alwyn's group chat name, "The Tortured Man Club," which includes friends Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott.

Following the album announcement, Swift released the tracklist, prompting fans to dissect the titles. Many believed that songs like “But Daddy I Love Him,” “Fortnight,” “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” and “So Long London” could be references to Alwyn.

Ahead of its release, Taylor Swift teamed up with Apple Music to curate five special playlists based on the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Each playlist focuses on heartbreak and includes titles like “I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life Songs” and “You Don’t Get to Tell Me About Sad Songs.”

In the denial-themed playlist, Swift includes songs inspired by her relationship with Alwyn such as “Lavender Haze,” “Lover,” and “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince.” The addition of “Lover” caused excitement among Swift's fans, as many believe the romantic song is about Alwyn. Since its release in 2019, “Lover” has become a popular choice for couples looking for a wedding song.

One fan expressed their emotions by saying, "Taylor adding Lover to the 'I love you, it's ruining my life' playlist makes me want to cry." Another fan commented, "Taylor Swift calling Lover a song about denial is one of the craziest things she's ever done."

Fans with a keen eye also pointed out that "Sweet Nothing" and "Betty" were included on the playlist, with Alwyn receiving songwriter credit for these tracks under the pseudonym William Bowery.

The Tortured Poets Department drops on April 19.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing glimpse into Taylor Swift's romantic life, chronicling her breakup with Joe Alwyn and subsequent relationships.